The next day.

Jian Yue regained her cool demeanor as the senior sister, and Wei Wan returned to her gentle and dignified manner as the second senior sister. Together with Su Xin and Chun Ningzhi, they led the Zhenyang Sect disciples onward to Zhenyang City.

"Senior Brother He, did you not sleep well last night?"

Xu Caihe asked Qin Gengyun with concern.

"No, I slept very well last night, haha."

Qin Gengyun laughed heartily, hiding his bloodshot eyes.

Last night, his wife was truly upset and urged him to cultivate through the whole night.

It wasn’t cultivation between husband and wife; it was personal cultivation.

After all, they were outdoors, and Qiu Zhihe was shy and hadn’t reached the point where she could cultivate with her husband anytime, anywhere.

She said, "The husband has just taken a concubine here, and the joy is abundant, suitable for cultivating overnight," and then she watched over Qin Gengyun, making him practice the Separating Yang Technique all night while she calmly sat opposite him, supervising quietly.

Liu Su and Mo Xiaolan sensibly went back to sleep, avoiding offending Qiu Zhihe at this time.

Especially Liu Su, who knew the Saintess loathed Ye Xiyue and Su Hongling the most, unable to tolerate her husband being divided by Ye Xiyue.

Even if it’s fake, it’s unacceptable!

Poor Qin Gengyun could only cultivate throughout the night. Although he was already in the Golden Core Realm, cultivating in a state of unease for so long was unbearable. His eyes turned red from exhaustion.

Xu Caihe looked at Qin Gengyun’s eyes and took a pill from her Storage Bag, handing it to him:

"Senior Brother He, this is the Spirit-Calming Jade Spring Pill. It can quickly restore spiritual power and spirit. You should take it."

Qin Gengyun glanced at Qiu Zhihe in the distance, who wore a calm expression, and politely declined:

"Thank you, Junior Sister Xu, but I’m really fine."

Xu Caihe followed his gaze to Qiu Zhihe, lightly biting her lip, and whispered:

"Senior Brother He is about to become famous, so why fear his wife?"

"..."

Qin Gengyun was stunned but then smiled and said, "Junior Sister Xu, it’s not about fear. I respect the one I love and hope you understand."

Xu Caihe lowered her head, looking up moments later with a smile: "I understand; no matter what, Senior Brother He, you are a hero in my heart!"

With that, she stuffed the pill into Qin Gengyun’s hand and ran off into the distance.

Qin Gengyun looked down at the pill emitting spiritual power in his hand, shaking his head helplessly. Suddenly, Qiu Zhihe’s voice transmitted into his ear:

"The pill is quite effective. Hurry and take it."

Qin Gengyun turned to Qiu Zhihe in amazement. She huffed and turned away, but her mouth curved slightly upward.

Her heart replayed Qin Gengyun’s earlier words, "I respect the one I love," as all bitterness was replaced by sweetness.

"Saintess, can we really trust Wei Wan? What if she turns around and sells us to the Zhenyang Sect?"

Liu Su sat beside Qiu Zhihe, transmitting her voice.

Qiu Zhihe replied serenely, "Wei Wan’s heart isn’t with the Zhenyang Sect. Like us, she’s just passing through Zhenyang Mountain."

"She carries many secrets, which we must eventually uncover."

Several miles away, towering mountains reaching into the clouds appeared before everyone.

Zhenyang Mountain was now within sight.

...

As they approached Zhenyang City, they encountered many returning disciples from the Zhenyang Sect on the road, most of whom were acquaintances with Jian Yue, Wei Wan, and their team of four.

Everyone greeted each other joyfully, feeling as if they had survived a calamity, with a sense of living in a different era.

Soon, countless Zhenyang Sect disciples gathered at the foot of Zhenyang Mountain, reminiscent of the time they set out to resist the beast tide.

Tantai Mingyue once again stood before everyone, her gentle and serene face hiding uncontainable sadness, speaking softly:

"Dear comrades, a month ago we parted here, with the mountain gate full, and today upon our reunion, the gate stands emptier."

Her words brought tears to many eyes, as when the Zhenyang Sect disciples left Zhenyang City in grandeur, heading toward the three cities and twelve towns.

Returning now, they found fewer familiar faces around them.

These are the ones who stayed behind forever in distant lands.

Sobs that couldn’t be restrained began to echo among the crowd, with many female disciples wiping their tears.

Tantai Mingyue’s voice suddenly rose:

"Those who are absent died without regrets to protect all beings. They will enter the Sword Tomb and become everlasting examples for the Zhenyang Sect!"

"And those standing here today, you are heroes too!"

"Among you, there are those as brilliant as comets in the night sky. They are the present of Zhenyang Sect and the future of Eastern Cultivation Land and the whole Hongzhou Continent!"

Then Tantai Mingyue recounted the deeds of several disciples who performed outstandingly in resisting the beast tide.

For example, Zhang Ling from Heaven-Reaching Peak, with One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques, he slew Fifth Grade Demonic Beasts and hundreds of Fourth Grade Demonic Beasts in the relief battle for Qinghe City. He charged into siege-bound Qinghe City like a divine soldier, tearing open a path in the beast tide.

Zhao Zhen from Forgetful Peak manipulated dozens of Array Puppets to rush into the beast tide, saving over a hundred Zhenyang Sect disciples surrounded by demonic beasts.

Chen Danfeng, a steward disciple from Divinity Transformation Peak, during the sect’s attack on the beast-occupied Wuxi Town, shattered the town gates with his Flesh Armor, leading disciples inside, slaying countless demonic beasts.

These deeds were recounted by Tantai Mingyue, drawing exclamations and cheers, and the initially somber mood gradually grew more lively.

"Zheng Shengmo’s scandals have spread throughout the world, causing Zhenyang Sect disciples to feel low. Tantai Mingyue deliberately highlighting these positive deeds aims to diminish the impact of Zheng Shengmo’s disgrace, preventing unrest within the sect... She’s truly adept at controlling people’s hearts as the Deputy Sect Leader," Liu Su transmitted to Qin Gengyun and Qiu Zhihe.

Just as she finished speaking, Tantai Mingyue’s voice once again rose:

"And there’s one disciple, the pride of the sect!"

"Though he entered the sect only months ago, he has broken through to the Golden Core Realm and with the cultivation of the first-layer Golden Core boldly confronted the Seventh Grade Demonic Beast, Red Flame Fox! He injured the Red Flame Fox with a single blow, forcing it to retreat, saving hundreds of comrades and the Zhenlian City garrison!"

Tantai Mingyue’s words instantly turned the already lively atmosphere into one of fervor.

"One blow injuring a Seventh Grade Demonic Beast?!"

"Golden Core Realm fighting the Red Flame Fox?!"

"Oh my heavens!!"

"An absolute genius indeed!"

"Already showing the brilliance of Senior Sister Ye back in the day!"

"Who is he exactly??"

Many looked around excitedly and curiously, eager to see the peerless genius who repelled the Red Flame Fox.

"Wow, there he is! Brother-in-law, who would have thought you’d be the ace in saving Zhenyang Sect’s morale!"

As Liu Su exclaimed softly, Tantai Mingyue smiled and looked at Qin Gengyun in the crowd, announcing loudly:

"This genius who single-handedly repelled the Red Flame Fox is none other than the Outer Sect disciple of Forgetful Peak—He Zhiqiu!"